Painting Development : James – Morning Sleep
Unless specified, all artwork is the intellectual property and copyright of Mark Duggan. No work is to be reproduced without permission of the artist.
SEE HOW THE PAINTING PROGRESSED, (Step by Step):
Scroll down to see more!
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Background and Inspiration:
Here I am flicking through my sketchbooks and other subject matter when I cross back into my ‘sleep’ series. It’s a series which I feel isn’t complete yet. Anyway; lots of images leap out to me as ones I would like to tackle. However, today, one speaks a little louder than the rest. It’s James again.
He’s a boy with a lot of personality. I really enjoyed creating the last painting I did of him. So I’m really enthusiastic about this one too!
As you see it develop, you will probably realise there are similarities to one of my last paintings from this series. However… This work has some points / qualities I really love and want to develop/work on. I never paint something I’m not excited about… Those paintings never work. Anyway, here are the points I’m talking about:
* Lighting – I like how it touches the tops of the bedding and James’s face.
* Long composition – The long aspect of this is great. It helps draw the eye to James face.
* Angles and folds of bedding – I like how these are sitting as a sort of ‘massed hill’ on top of James.
* Bedding edging – I like the way the edge of the bedding snakes its way through the other fabric.
I could add another dozen items, but I don’t want to go on too much about this. I want to get painting! But before I do, I have to hit the sketchbook again and make some compositional adjustments. These include altering some of the bedding and making his arm visible (it was under bedding in the original compositional images).
OK… crunch time. Grab a cuppa and settle in for a creative session. I’m into it!
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1. Getting Started! – well, almost
New brushes at the ready. As per the ‘Lock Shop’ progress blog; I have purchased some more new brushes. And just as before, these brushes are great!
So I’m into it. Two hours later and I take a few minutes break… come back to feast my eyes on what I have done. And you know what?… I just don’t like it. So, out with the rag and turps. Five minutes later and 2 hours of work is gone!
Don’t panic! I’m not phased by this set back. It was just a false start. That often happens with me. Takes me a while to get in the groove for a new work. I’m sure the next session will tick along nicely.
Sorry, but there no image yet because there is nothing to show you!
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2. Second attempt
Right then. Feeling fresh and ready to go.
First; cue up some music. Hmmmm… what do I feel like listening to?… After a quick flick through the music collection I find ‘Moby – Play, the B sides’. Haven’t heard that for a while. So that will do nicely.
Here I am, and unusually, I am sitting at the easel for this work. Normally I stand because I am constantly stepping back to view the work as it progresses. Let’s see how I go being seated.
…an hour later and a cup of tea and biscuit consumed…
I find myself standing more and more. That chair isn’t going to stay here! Well; the painting has progressed well. I’m happy with it. The initial bedding is done. Colour mixing went well. I like how the light is hitting the top of the bedding. Hope it will translate well on the finished image. Will have to wait a bit until we get to that stage!
Ok… I know what you really want. And that is to see an image of work done to date.
So here it is…
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3. More progress
I can’t help it. I keep revisiting the fabric I have already worked on… and it’s looking better each time! This time I added more yellow to the duvet to give it more warmth.
I think I am coming to the end of this section though. Looking forward to adding the trim on the end of the fabric. This will help define the bedding more.
Here’s an image of progress so far…
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4. Moving ahead
Still making reasonable progress. Still revisiting old parts of the fabric to adjust. Not much else to add. Just progressing nicely. Here’s the image!
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5. Thinking ahead
As I work away at the top bedding, I start to think about a lot of things… Important things… What am I going to have for lunch? When will the car parts I ordered arrive? Should I go and grab another cup of tea?
There is a program on TV at the moment call ‘Flash Forward’. In it, people get a glimpse of their own future in 6 months time. Lots of exciting things happens to all of these people. You know… assassinations; affairs; evil plots; world conspiracies. Really dramatic stuff. I was thinking… hmmm…
Mark Duggan here; now painting. —- Flash forward 6 months ahead —- Assassinations, conspiracies, dramatic events are everywhere… and as for Mark? He’s here just as before… painting! Ha ha ha! I think most of us will be doing just that… What we normally do. Suits me fine… I’m getting a kick out of doing this! Anyway; I digress…
As I said; from time to time my mind wanders as I paint. Can you tell? It’s great. What I was really thinking forward to the next portion of this painting. I am thinking of changing the colour of the sheet on James’ bed. No assassination plot here!
Enough rambling for now… back to the easel !
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6. Edge of Bedding
A good session with the detailed edge of the bedding started. Quite a bit to do here. So it will probably take me a few sessions to finish this off.
This time I was a little slow as I was getting to grips with how to tackle this. I did revisit it several times; but overall, I think it is progressing well.
I have to step back and think how it will relate to the rest of the work. Hmmm… yes… I think it will look fine.
Here’s an image of it so far…
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7. Love it or Hate it?
I think I have been staring at this too long. One moment I am loving it… the other, I’m not! Starting to feel a bit stale on this. I think it’s because I have been working on the bedding for a while. When I move onto the next area I will feel more positive. Gotta… keep… going… can’t… give… up…
It’s not that bad. I am still enjoying what I’m doing!
I have discovered now that the photos I’ve been taking of the painting as it progresses are giving me a good reference point for the whole image. It’s sort of like standing back and viewing your work (which I already do constantly) but from a new viewpoint. When I get the photo onto the computer, I get a new perspective on it. I can see areas I need to adjust that I hadn’t seen before. So that’s good. Right… I’m going to adjust that bedding again!
Here’s this sessions image…
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8. Fabric edging… It’s almost done
A slow session this time. Did the next section of the bedding edge. Looking good I think. I didn’t need to rework it as much as some of the previous parts; so that’s a good thing. Just chugged along slowly on it. Here’s that all important progress photo…
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9. Fabric edging… done (I think)
A quick session at the easel (is there such a thing?!) and I have finished the edge of the fabric around the bedding. I’m happy with it. But I suspect I will venture back there a few times just to adjust a few areas subtly.
Here’s the image…
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10. Moving Blue Butter
I’m embarrassed to say how long I spent on James top (so I won’t tell you!). All started well. But the more I sat here, the more I adjusted the fabric… Making folds disappear; move; get bigger; smaller; get lighter; darker. Seemed to be doing this over and over. It’s sort of like shifting butter around with a paintbrush… hence the name of this session (moving blue butter).
Right! I could keep doing this for a while yet. So I will spend a little more time on his top (as I think I’m almost there), and then move on… I’ve got to, to keep my sanity!
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11. Bottom sheet – Like a rocket!
So I am settled in staring at that blue top and thinking… Hmmm… should I adjust it some more or move on?
NOOOOOO!!! …must… resist… urge to… work more… on… top… aaaaargh!… be strong!
So take a deep breath and venture onto the area below. This is the main sheet James is lying on. Into it man… get into it!!!
…time passes…
Well, what can I say? How about; it went like a rocket!!! By comparison to James’ top, this section went so fast and well. I covered so much area of the canvas in a fraction of the time spent on his top. I’m loving it! Just a few highlights and adjustments to do and I’m done.
Before I do that though, here’s an image of it…
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12. Pillow – Overall image is taking shape now!
Into it again. This time I decided to move onto the pillow. It just seemed the logical to area to tackle after doing the sheet (as they are both made of the same fabric). The sheet/pillow are a slightly different texture/colour than the duvet etc; yet they are similar enough to help keep the bedding as a single cohesive form.
Anyway… All went well with the pillow. No dramas. Here it is…
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13. Windows
Ok… Feeling a bit tired today, so I’m not sure how it will go. I must do something… Can’t have a day go by without painting! So I take a breath and settle in to another session. I know this one won’t be a long one. Plan to only be here an hour or so. I’m going to work on the frames around the windows. Depending on how it goes, I may tackle the the glass too. We will see.
Going well considering that I am feeling weary. I don’t think I will attempt the glass panes now.
All done (for now). Here’s the progress made so far…
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14. Glass and Drapes
Right… starting this session not in the right headspace. So I decide to only spend 15 minutes sorting out part of the window frames I wasn’t happy with. I now call it quits and walk away.
…zzzzzz… time passes…
New session. I’m into it!
It’s really coming together. You must have a fair idea how the painting will look now? It’s come a long way since I posted the first image for this work. I have completed the windows and the drapes/curtains went really well. I tried a new technique with the brush. I’m pleased with the result. The drapes look smooth and have good definition. I’m happy… cue cheesy grin!
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15. Arm
I knew this would be a long session… and it was. But I was in a good frame of mind. So all progressed well. I had to get a couple of breaks to rest the eyes and gain a new perspective too!
Lots of very subtle adjustments made. And it may not look like it, but a slight brushstroke change can effect this area significantly.
I thought I was done… until I had asked for some feedback. It was valued advice and I ended up saying “yes… I think you are right… I will adjust that”. Ten minutes later it’s looking so much better. I’m pretty sure I am done here.
Here’s the image with James’ arm…
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16. The Biggie – James’s head!
For me, the whole painting has been building up to this. It’s crunch time!
Time to paint James’s head. Again it’s the ‘make or break’ part of the work. If it works it’s a ‘Painting WIN’… if it doesn’t… Painting FAIL!
I’ll start with his face and skin. Lock and Load those brushes… Here I go!
Base colours down. This is the usual process I follow. This first step makes James’ face look like a bit of a patchwork quilt. Next step I refine the areas; moving back and forwards constantly to keep everything consistent.
All is going incredibly well. In fact I am feeling fantastic about the progress. His face is showing great definition with subtle tones fleshing out the visual planes of his face brilliantly! At the moment I’m thinking… I ROCK!!!
This session has been one of my ‘late night’ sessions. At the end I toddle off to bed feeling so pumped and energetic… It takes me over an hour to fall asleep. Last time I check the clock it is 1:30am.
Here’s an image of me working on his face…
And here’s another one of the entire painting. It’s all coming together nicely now.
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17. Hair – The last piece of the painting – FINISHED !
Last part to go. James’s hair is quite dark, so the main contrasting areas are on the top of his head with reflected light. Nothing much to say about this. Went really well… so here it is… The painting of James is done!
Drum roll please…
and one more image, but this time… Finished!
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